A Historical Survey of the Customs, Habits, & Present State of the GypsiesHoyland, John
History
A Historical Survey of the Customs, Habits, & Present State of the Gypsies
Hoyland, John
Romanies
From the length of time they have continued to reside in Britain, they
have ceased to become subjects of much curiosity or conversation. And as
they endeavour to avoid populous districts, persons in large towns, who
are occupied in trade, seem little aware that in the county they inhabit,
there may be hordes of these wanderers, traversing the thinly inhabited
parts of it, in various directions, as was the case in Yorkshire during
the last summer. (1815.)
When the amelioration of the condition of this people is mentioned to
persons of the above description, so little informed are they on the
subject, that it is many times treated as if the existence of Gypsies was
questioned; at others, as if affording any help to them, was visionary,
and even ludicrous.
Some places formerly frequented by Gypsey gangs, having been much
deserted by them of late years, does not authorize any calculation upon a
decrease of their numbers in the nation.
In the vicinity of the metropolis, Gypsies have been excluded by
inclosures from various situations to which they had been accustomed to
resort. But there is some reason to apprehend they have become more
numerous, in several other parts of the Island. Baillie Smith of Kelso,
is of opinion, they increase in Scotland, and it is by no means certain
that they do not in England.
Any idea that routing them will lessen their numbers, may be as
fallacious, and injudicious, as were banishments from the German States,
which, without diminishing Gypsey population, had the injurious effect of
alienating them still more from civil associations.
Junius, the other correspondent of the Northampton Mercury, in his
Address of October 29, writes: “I trust the time is not distant, when
much will be accomplished, as it respects the civilization of the people
whose cause we plead. In the meantime, I would humbly hope all those
harsh and degrading measures, of publicly in the papers, and upon
placards by the sides of roads, ordering their apprehension and
commitment to prison, will be suspended, until some asylum is offered;
and should nothing be attempted by the Legislature, for reclaiming them
from their present mode of life, surely much may be done by the exertions
of individuals!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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